Test Shoot

Stills and photos. For Framing purposes.

Shot and framing ideas for the first "Beautiful Earth" half of the film

I really like how this shot is framed. And how it gives the audience the sense of mystery.

I also think that it makes my model look vulnerable and gives her the element of beauty.

Shot and framing ideas for the second "Devistating Oil" half of the film

Upper Back Oil Test

Mouth Sick oil test

Hand and leg oil Test

Front Torso Oil Test

Film Tests

The main reason for having the test shoot was to test the "Oil" on screen.

- we needed to work out how best to organise the shot list so that all of her could be covered but also that we could get close up shots of the oil drips running down her body.

The boys on the film crew also wanted to test framing, lighting and the frame rate as we want to shoot it in slow motion.

Things we worked out during the test shoot-

Frame rate- 72fpm seems to be the best to capture the oil in slow motion.

Consistency of the oil- whereas in previous tests i had mixed some of the oil mixture with water to thin it down and make it run faster, when we did the full body, it turned out that because there was a lot more "oil" the weight of it made it run quicker than expected so it was decided that the consistency was to remain thick, and not thin down the golden syrup with any water, just mix it with black food colouring.

Order of Shots- below are the particular shots/framing that i liked, and think would work well for the shoot (considering where the prosthetics are, and what would flatter my model.) But otherwise we worked out that the order of the oil shots would have to be from the legs upwards. So we would drip the syrup down her feet and legs first, then her mid section, then her shoulders and back and finally all over her head.

The opening shot of the film i want to be a full shot of the bodypaint, with my model sideways on in a pose similar to the one too the right.

This is so that the viewer can clearly see what she is and what she represents before the close up shots.

The idea is to have a mirroring shot at the end where she is covered in "Oil" to show the damage it has done to her.

I think this could be really powerful and effective in terms of a message.

I just thought this shot was beautiful when we did it and flatters my model so i would like to include it in the shot.

This was one of my favourite shots from the test shoot. I dont even think that it was intentional but i definitely think that we have to have some footage of the oil on the floor and her standing in it.

This is a nice shot and framing i like the fact her eyes are just off screen.

Testing Prosthetics and Adhesives

Just for the test shoot I used the South America silicone test prosthetic that i was testing flocking and painting with, just so that we could test the oil dripping down the silicone, and also so that the boys could see how to focus and frame the prosthetics so the 3D would look effective in 2D.

Personally I also wanted to test this piece because i had planned to have it across the knee joint and i know that area would be tricky because there is a lot of movement there.

This is particularly a shot that i would want, because on the back of the neck i am having the Arctic prosthetic. And i especially want a close up of this one. I also think that it will help exaggerate the #SAVETHEARCTIC greenpeace campaign.

I saw a shot with similar framing to this in Blake Little's film "Preservation" so bought it up to my DOP and he took this shot. I particularly think this will work because this is where i am having the Africa prosthetic.

I am not sure about this framing but i included this in the shot list because i want to show off the legs and the prosthetics on them. I don't like the positioning my model is in, i would want her facing her legs more towards the camera and in a more delicate pose.

I have noticed that my model stands with one soulder higher than the other, it was the same as the lifecast, a

It was also helpful to have a practice of the oil pouring because when we film it on the shoot day we will only have one chance to get it right and pour the oil correctly.

We learnt the best method to do this was with plastic cups, rather than the watering can and buckets i had bought, they need to be help in contact with the skin so that it pours evenly and no other streams run down not on the body. It was actually a lot more tricky then first thought.

The reason for this shot is just to get the other side of the body but a wider and not so close up, like the previous shot of the hand. The idea is to try and run the oil down the arm and the body at the same time.

The close up of the hand is not to necessarily show off too much of the makeup or prosthetics but we found that this shot was very effective and the way it dropped down the arm and off the hand was easy to pan with the camera so it looks good.